The 2010 Chilli growing thread - it's scorching!

[CHokKA]

Hey everyone

I've not posted in this thread yet, although I probably should have by now! I've had some chilli plants on the go since about March, and they're doing well. Three of them were shop bought (Apache, Cayenne, and an F1 Super Chilli). I also planted 72 seeds from a Bird's Eye Chilli that we had with a meal and 53 have sprouted into plants now! I'm well chuffed. I nursed them in the airing cupboard originally, and then put them onto the window will that had the most light. They are outside today getting sun, as the weather here is beautiful.

I have a question about my F1 Super Chilli though. I repotted it because I thought it might be getting pot bound (the bottom leaves were dropping and turning yellowish) but this hasn't helped it at all. The top leaves are strong and healthy, but the bottom ones (only about 4 - 5) are still yellow. I then thought I might have overwatered them, so I haven't been watering it quite as frequently. As I say, the rest of the plant looks really healthy (although no signs of flower or fruit yet), it's just the bottom two layers of leaves. Any ideas from the chilli gurus here?

My Apache and Cayenne varieties are fruiting at the moment

I'll post pics tonight

 

[scruffeh]

I make it out as Navaho (navajo)

C annuum
Chilli Pepper Navaho an early and very high yielding semi-hot pepper. Small conical shaped fruits grow to about 10cm long and increase in heat and flavour as they turn red. Ideal for stuffing. RHS Award of Garden Merit

Ahh yeah. I think you're probably right. Nice work there...

 

[garylouden]

Can anyone ID this chilli for me? I planted about 8 types and no idea what this is.

 

[zipp0r]

Hey everyone

I have a question about my F1 Super Chilli though. I repotted it because I thought it might be getting pot bound (the bottom leaves were dropping and turning yellowish) but this hasn't helped it at all. The top leaves are strong and healthy, but the bottom ones (only about 4 - 5) are still yellow. I then thought I might have overwatered them, so I haven't been watering it quite as frequently. As I say, the rest of the plant looks really healthy (although no signs of flower or fruit yet), it's just the bottom two layers of leaves. Any ideas from the chilli gurus here?

My Apache and Cayenne varieties are fruiting at the moment

I'll post pics tonight

how green are the leaves? dark or light green? a feed with baby bio 10-2-2 will provide N which should slow down yellowing

Can anyone ID this chilli for me? I planted about 8 types and no idea what this is.

looks kinda like a habanero?

 

[CHokKA]

how green are the leaves? dark or light green? a feed with baby bio 10-2-2 will provide N which should slow down yellowing

The leaves up the rest of the plant are very green. It is just the few toward the bottom that aren't doing so well. They're also curling a tiny bit. What is the likely cause of this?

I'll get some baby bio tonight and give that a try. They've been loving the sun today though. They're in my driveway which will have had full exposure to the sun for all of today so far

 

[J1234]

Mine are finally turning red - taken bloody ages!

 

[randomshenans]

Some of my scotch bonnets have turned red while very small, like bean size! Ah well, I can start one mass harvest soon and hope they'll keep coming!

Some plants still just starting to flower properly, or not started flowering yet so nice mix going on.

 

[zipp0r]

my jalapeno has started growing a few little chillis after ive been polinating the flowers as soon as they open. the plant is doing very well and theres like 70 buds so far, with more to come, im gonna have soooo many and they grow soo fast.
my scotch bonnet still has a while to go before it starts opening flowers, but its already nearly doubled in size after i got it a week ago.

can we have some pictures of everyones plants with the chillis ?

 

[Mark A]

Just had a rough count and I have around 40 small chillies growing on all my plants now . What the hell am I going to do with them all?!?!

I think as they're cayenne chillies I'll probably powder a lot of them to use in curries and chillies etc.

I just wish I had grown like 2 or 3 cayennes plants and some hotter varieties and a couple of jalepenos. Ah well, there's always next year. Plus I have all the gear now so it shouldn't be as costly next time around.

 

[Serpantine]

Could someone post a picture of a Scotch bonet plant, i'm going to see if i can pick up a plant from Homebase / Supermarket whatever tomorrow.

Thanks.

 

[zipp0r]

you can still buy them from wilkinsons, they have scotch bonnet and cayenne. homebase only had jalapenos(infested with fungus gnats btw). they only take 3 weeks for them to start growing chillis, so its not too late
see post number 747 for a pic of one.

 

[Serpantine]

Thanks zipp0r, nice big leaves will look good on the 'sil

I intend to make some Jerk paste with them when they're ripe, maybe do some from seed next year

 

[Mobius 1]

none of my flowers have any chillis coming out yet, almost all of the flowers are open too. i tried self polinating, but to be honest, im not sure what the hell im doing lol. i caught a bee in a cup today too, and introduced it to my plants, but it didnt seem interested and just flew off! any tips??

 

[Felix]

I have my plants in the window of the conservatory, came home yesterday to find them cooking in the heat Took them out the sun and gave them a water and hope they are ok.

 

[Mobius 1]

I have my plants in the window of the conservatory, came home yesterday to find them cooking in the heat Took them out the sun and gave them a water and hope they are ok.

mine are always in the window and in direct sunlight..

 

[Felix]

Well they have been fine for days and came home to find the leaves going brown, but not dry. Looked like the colour had washed out!

 

[Mobius 1]

Well they have been fine for days and came home to find the leaves going brown, but not dry. Looked like the colour had washed out!

not good! a ouple of my flowers have gone brown.... hmm.

 

[arknor]

its one of the hottest days so far all my plants are in the shade the leaves arent thick enough

 

[zipp0r]

none of my flowers have any chillis coming out yet, almost all of the flowers are open too. i tried self polinating, but to be honest, im not sure what the hell im doing lol. i caught a bee in a cup today too, and introduced it to my plants, but it didnt seem interested and just flew off! any tips??

i got a cotton bud and gently poked the bits of the flower what have pollen, then touched it onto the end of the thing in the centre on the next flower, then took pollen from that one and onto the next and so on. u cant polinate a flower with its own pollen. probably go back over ones u did already to make sure.
i have lots of chillis forming from doing this.

i guess i shud check my plants to see if they are ok in this bright sun if others are having problems, althought they seem to have been lapping up the bright sun for the past few weeks with no problems.
*edit* mine are fine... loving it i can see the chillis growing bigger and bigger everyday

 

[arknor]

i got a cotton bud and gently poked the bits of the flower what have pollen, then touched it onto the end of the thing in the centre on the next flower, then took pollen from that one and onto the next and so on. u cant polinate a flower with its own pollen. probably go back over ones u did already to make sure.
i have lots of chillis forming from doing this.

i guess i shud check my plants to see if they are ok in this bright sun if others are having problems, althought they seem to have been lapping up the bright sun for the past few weeks with no problems.
*edit* mine are fine... loving it i can see the chillis growing bigger and bigger everyday

chillis are self polinating the pollen the flower creates can be used on that flower.

anyway this is how i do it.

electric toothbrush + small spoon

place spoon under flower turn on electric toothbrush and touch it on the back of the flower.

do this for all flowers and then just dip the long middle bit on each flower into the pollen on the spoon